YOUR Backstage PASS

WE’RE MISSING LIVE MUSIC, SO MARION MCMULLEN LOOKS AT CANDID PHOTOS OF ARTISTS BEHIND THE SCENES

1965

Rhinestone Cowboy singer Glen Campbell and Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys pictured before a concert after Glen replaced Brian Wilson temporarily as lead singer of the group after Brian suffered a breakdown.

1966

American singer songwriter Scott Walker, of The Walker Brothers, was photographed backstage during a visit to the Granada Theatre in London. Big hit The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore was released the same year.

1985

Queen rock star Freddie Mercury was pictured backstage at the Live Aid concert at Wembley. Guitarist Brian May later said of his bandmate: “Freddie was our secret weapon. He was able to reach out to everybody in that stadium effortlessly, and I think it was really his night.”

1946

Legendary American singer Billie Holiday was joined by her pet dog Mister backstage at a concert at the Club Downbeat on 52nd Street in New York. She took her beloved Boxer nearly everywhere with her, including Harlem’s top nightspots.

1985

Wham! star George Michael was pictured having his hair blowdried by a stylist backstage during the Australian leg of the pop duo’s world tour. The Big Tour also took in the UK, Japan, China and America.

1957

Rock Around The Cloc Clock singer Bill Haley welcomed fans into his dressing room at the Dominion Theatre in London after his final UK tour date. A 6,000-strong audience gave the rock ’n’ roll star a big send off.

1965

Welsh superstar Tom Jones worked up a sweat performing at the Atlanta Ballroom in Surrey and needed to towel down backstage in his dressing room. His first single It’s Not Unusual was released in January of 1965 and by February he was a huge star. Tom has said: “When I realised I could sing for a living, do what I loved and be paid for it, I thought ‘this is unbelievable’. And that feeling has never left me.”

1959

Be-bop-a-lula singer Gene Vincent and Little Richard, of Tutti-fruiti and Good Golly, Miss Molly, fame toured Australia together playing before thousands. Gene was only 36 when he died from a ruptured stomach ulcer and Ian Dury later paid tribute to him in the song Sweet Gene Vincent.

1969

Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger got to chat backstage with Chuck Berry at Madison Square Garden. The concert was recorded and later released as the live album Get Yer Ya-ya’s Out and also as part of the film Gimme Shelter.

1967

Engelbert Humperdinck with his sisters Bubbles, Celine, Tilley, Peggy and Dolly, backstage at De Montfort Hall, Leicester. November 6, 1967. The crooner had a string of hits with the likes of Release Me.

1965

It was champagne all round when Lulu and Ready Steady Go presenter Cathy Mcgowan popped open the bubbly backstage at the ATV music show. Dusty Springfield can even be spotted reflected in the mirror.